had she looked handsomer to Job.
Close at her side he kept as Bess slowly walked down across the river
bridge, past the Sentinel House, and on close to the Bridal Veil
Falls.

As the rainbow in the spray, with its iridescent colors, laughed at
them through the trees, Job thought of the gala day coming, when he
should claim this noble girl for his bride, and an honest pride filled
his heart. At the foot of Inspiration Point they tarried for a full
hour, it was so hard to say good-by. How he hated to take Bess from
her! At last a sudden thought came to him. She should keep Bess in the
valley till the autumn days came and Jane could return home. He would
go back over the Merced canyon trail, only twenty-six miles to his
home; he had often wanted to try it and cross the river on Ward's
cable. He could not go that way on horseback, and he would leave
Bess. He would like to think of Jane and her as together. The girl
protested, but she felt a secret joy. It would be next to having him.
So she did not dismount, but through her tears saw Job vanish down the
canyon, along the Rapids, towards the old, almost forgotten trail that
leads for twenty miles by the river's roaring torrent, to where the
South Fork joins the North Fork.

A sudden impulse seized her. She turned Bess' head toward the toll
road and began to climb the steep three miles to Inspiration Point.
Then she hunted for the Cliff Trail that leads away from the road out
along the great left precipice of the canyon. She knew there must be
some opening in the forest over there. She remembered it from the
valley below, the day she had gone down by the Rapids. She would find
it and catch one last glimpse of Job on the trail. She would wave to
him, and perhaps he would see her. She had Bess, and it would not take
long to return; father would not miss her.

Just as she turned into the trail a campers' wagon climbed the hill
back of her and passed on over the road, but she did not notice it,
she was so absorbed in her own thoughts. She must hurry. Would Job see
her? Anyway she would surely see him--she would dismount and creep out
to where nothing could hide her view.

* * * * *

Far below Job was already on his march homeward. With a swinging gait,
and a determined will that said he must do it, though all the love in
his heart said no, Job started off through the trees and on down the
canyon trail. His eyes were misty and a lump was in hi